When I consider the myriad of stars in the heavens, I can’t help but marvel at the power of God.The starry sky is physical evidence that He created worlds without number.When we view the night sky we are literally witnessing the power and majesty of God.

What makes the cosmos even more fascinating is that God wants to share the cosmos with us.He has already done so with Abraham.The scriptures declare that Abraham has received his exaltation, ascended to a throne, and has become a god.What sort of work is Abraham doing in the cosmos?If I had to guess I would say that he is assisting Heavenly Father with the creation and organization of worlds.

If we live righteously and qualify for the redeeming grace of Jesus Christ, we too will enjoy the same opportunities as Abraham.We will become involved in the celestial effort to create and populate worlds without number.When that day comes, alas we will finally know what is going on with those mysterious globular clusters!

A globular cluster (as shown in the above photo) is an ancient, tightly packed, cluster of stars.Long before dinosaurs and ancient life roamed the earth, even before our sun was formed, large groups of stars coalesced and started orbiting our galaxy.Most globular clusters exist in the halo of our galaxy, the bright bulging region extending out from the galactic center.

Surprisingly there are relatively few globular clusters in our galaxy, only about 200 known to date; yet these clusters contain innumerable stars.Each contains millions of stars so densely packed that the “night” sky would always be bright if our earth was placed within one.Interestingly, however, they contain very few planetary systems because they have low metallic concentrations, and extreme gravitational forces from passing stars would rip planetary systems apart.

So what in the world is going on in these clusters?What purpose do they serve?The scriptures tell us that every space in the cosmos contains a kingdom.What kingdom(s) exists in these mysterious regions of our galaxy, then?Are they mortal-telestial, immortal-telestial, terrestrial, or celestial kingdoms?They hardly seem like ideal zones for mortal-telestial planets.If they are inhabited regions, it would seem that only exalted beings could exist in them, likely on worlds that look to us like stars because they have been celestialized into “seas of glass”.

According to Dr. Eric Skousen, who authored the book "Earth In The Beginning", the globular cluster at the center of the Milky Way is the celestial kingdom. Kolob is located therein.

On pp 227-228 of the book, Dr. Skousen also states that a protective veil has been stretched out between the central cluster and Earth, because otherwise the light from it would be so bright that it might consume us, even at such a great distance.

I suggest it is possible that the terrestrial and telestial kingdoms respectively may surround the globular cluster in the center, but being less illuminated than the center itself. This would correlate with their description as being kingdoms of lesser glory. But this is just wildly undereducated speculation on my part.

Reply

Jack

3/14/2009 04:39:28 am

I've pretty-much given over to the idea that everything in the visible universe--as we see it--is telestial. And I'm comforted by the prophecies of Ether or says that the New Earth will be like the old--save the old will have passed away. This world--the Earth; the Moon and stars are too beautiful as they are. I don't like the idea of dwelling on a sea of glass. Let that be a place to visit--kinda like the local galactic library--not to live in. I want to walk in the cool of the day like Adam and Eve, surrounded by trees humming in the breeze--blue skies, the never-ending drama of cloud formations, snow-capped mountains, diamond-studded night-skies.

I loath the thought of forever yearning for my days of innocence--like the men in black wished they could look up at the sky and see only the stars--without all the crazy drama behind them.

Reply

Jack

3/14/2009 04:41:01 am

...like the men in black [who] wished...

Reply

Dave C.

3/14/2009 09:14:38 am

Jack Mormon

It has been a while since I've read Earth: In the Beginning, so I don't remember that part. Anyway, yes, I put Kolob at the center of our galaxy. In a previous post titled "Is this the dwelling place of God" I suggest that a recent Hubble infrared photo showing a massive star cluster near the center of our galaxy is the dwelling place of God.

I like your suggestion that worlds surrounding the center (in the galactic halo) are immortal telestial and terrestial realms that have fulfilled their mortal missions. That seems to make sense because they are "older" worlds. Then it makes sense to say that the location for mortal realms where new stars and earths are being formed is in the galactic, spiral arms which extend out to the sides. So, new worlds in the spiral arms and old worlds in the galactic halo is consistent with science. That leaves the center for the dwelling place of God.

I love it! Thanks. Any concerns?

Reply

Dave C.

3/14/2009 09:21:24 am

Jack,

I don't think that we can comprehend the beauty of celestialized worlds, so I would hold off on passing judgment on the aesthetic qualitites of a celestial sea of glass. But hey, if the Garden of Eden was suitable for the Father and the Son, then perhaps there are garden variety, idyllic settings in the celestial kingdom.